Piston ring



Aug. 18, 1936. R. RUGLAND PISTON RING Filed Feb. 25, 1936 Inventor Fv'ckari zjla 221d a A ltornepa Patented Aug. 18, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 1 Claim.

The present invention relates to new and useful improvements in piston rings particularly for internal combustion engines and has for its pri- F mary object to provide, in a manner as hereinafter set forth, a device of this character embodying a novel construction. combination and arrangement of parts through the medium of which the excessive consumption of oil, commonly known as oil pumping, will be prevented.

Further objects of the invention are to provide a piston ring of the aforementioned character which will be comparatively simple inconstruction, strong, durable, highly efficient andreliable in use, compact and which may be manufactured at low cost.

All of the foregoing and still further objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from a study of the following specification, taken in connection with the accompanying drawing wherein like characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, and wherein:

Figure 1 is a view in vertical section through a 25 piston. showing an embodiment of the present invention installed therein.

Figure 2 is a vertical sectional vie on an enlarged scale through the invention.

Figure 3 is a detail view in plan of the spring constituting an important part of the invention.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary view in plan, showing the coils of the spring substantially flattened in overlapping relation, as when in use.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view on an en- 35 larged scale, showing a modified form of the spring in use.

Figure 6 is a detail view in plan of the modified form of spring.

Figure '7 is a fragmentary view in side elevation, showing a portion of the modified form of spring.

Referring now to the drawing in detail, it will be seen that the reference numeral I designates a piston which is mounted for reciprocation in a cylinder 2. As usual, the piston I is mounted on a connecting rod 3. In its upper portion, the piston l is provided with a plurality of circumferential grooves l in the two uppermost of which suitable compression rings 5 are mounted. Installed in the lower groove 4 is the oil ring constituting the present invention which is designated generally by the reference numeral 6.

The ring 6 comprises complemental split upper and lower sections I and 8, respectively, of suitable resilient metal. As illustrated to advantage in Figure 2 of the drawing, the upper and lower sections 1 and 8 of the ring 6 are provided with inclined opposed faces 9 and I0, respectively.

The face III of the lower ring section 8 has formed therein a groove or channel II for the reception of a coil spring I 2. The face! of the (Cl. 309-P28) upper ring section 1 has formed therein a comparatively wide groove or channel I3 in which the spring I2 is engaged.

In use, the sections I and 8 are pressed together against the tension of the spring I 2 and inserted in the lower groove 4 of the piston I and when this is done the coils of said spring I2 are substantially flattened out in overlapping relation, as suggested in Figure 4 of the drawing. When thus installed the sections 1 and 8 are pressed against the upper and lower walls of the groove in the piston by the spring l2. The comparatively wide groove or channel I3 in the upper section I permits relative expansion and contraction of parts I and 8 under the action of heat, particularly when the ring is comparatively new and the fit is close. n the down stroke of the piston I the lower ring section 8 scrapes excess lubricating oil from the walls of the cylinder 2 and this oil is drained back into the crank case of the engine through inclined ports ll which are provided therefor in said piston I immediately below the lower groove 4. I

Referring now to Figures 5. 6 and 7 of the drawing. it will be seen that the reference numeral I designates a substantially corrugated or undulated spring which is substituted for the coil spring I2 between the upper and lower ring sections 1 and 8, respectively. The spring I5 is formed from suitable flat, resilient metal and said spring is substantially conical to conform to the inclination of the faces 9 and I ll of the sections 1 and 8, respectively. In other respects the modification is substantially similar in construction and operation to that form of the invention shown in Figures 1 and 2 with the exception that the grooves II and I3 are polygonal in crosssection. This slight difference in the shape of the grooves I I and I3 will be made readily apparent by a comparison of Figures 2 and 5.

It is believed that the many advantages of a piston ring constructed in accordance with the present invention will be readily understood, and although preferred embodimentsof the invention are as illustrated and described, it is to be understood that further modifications and changes in details of construction may be resorted to which will fall within the scope of the invention as claimed.

What is claimed is:

A piston ring comprising complemental upper and lower sections including oppositely inclined opposed faces having opposed grooves therein, one of said grooves being wider than the other, and a corrugated spring mounted in the grooves for yieldingly urging the sections against the upper and lower walls of a piston groove.

RICHARD RUGLAND. 

